Nick Carroll: Oops! No Wave Pool for Paris Olympics Either
Photo: WSL/Cestari
COASTALWATCH | NICK CARROLL
Paris 2024 president says: “We will not be using an artificial wave”
Remember what we reported earlier this week about wave pools and Paris, France?
I think the line ended up being, “Paris? Crickets.”
Fact is, there’s been a bit of minor froth about building a wave pool in or near Paris thanks to surfing’s almost certain inclusion in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Aside from the KSWC, at least one Parisian site had been making noises about a WaveGarden tub, hoping for it to be, in five years’ time, the home of the Five Rings.
Well it turns out Paris 2024 — like Tokyo 2020 — isn’t interested in wave pools, preferring to hold surfing in the ocean instead.
A report in the official Olympics news site, Inside The Games, quotes Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet as saying the idea of a pool has been ruled out.
“We will not be using an artificial wave for the surfing event,” M Estanguet is quoted as saying.
“We are very lucky to have several natural sites that can be used in France.
“We already have the expertise needed so we do not wish to invest in the infrastructure for an artificial wave.”
Biarritz, recent host of the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games, is considered the frontrunner, though the report says venues won’t be chosen until the IOC formally votes on the Paris sports roster later this month.
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